What are some good tips in writing a professional summary?

Hi Sharon!

A professional summary is a great way to grab the attention of potential employers/candidates (depending on what you're looking for) and set the tone for your professional brand. It's a way to quickly highlight your experiences and achievements in a way that encourages the reader to continue scrolling through your profile. With that said, condensing your accomplishments into 250 words is not always easy! It may help to try to tailor your summary to fit the opportunities you are looking for. For example, if you are interested in working in psychology, your summary might reflect your passion for working with others as well as some of your relevant experience or skills. In addition, it can help to add a bit of your own personality into your summary. Maybe try starting with a short anecdote that showcases how you were first introduced to the field you're most interested in, or discuss some of your future career goals. That way, you can connect with your audience in a way that is personable and approachable, yet still professional.

I also found some examples from LinkedIn that may offer more guidance on writing professional summaries. Here is the link:

https://business.linkedin.com/talent-solutions/blog/linkedin-best-practices/2016/7-linkedin-profile-summaries-that-we-love-and-how-to-boost-your-own

I hope these recommendations help! Wishing you all the best in your professional endeavors!

Great question! I always suggest your professional summary be very similar, if not identical to your "elevator pitch". What's an elevator pitch, you ask? It is simply a 20-30 second statement you could deliver to someone on an elevator. To put this together, I suggest a few key points:

1. Highlight your professional experience (if you have any...if you are a recent grad, lead off with that).
2. Talk about a few of your professional strengths
3. Share a few of your personal strengths. (as they relate to your interests and professional abilities)

Here is mine, as a reference:

Talent Acquisition Professional with several years’ experience in Global Talent Planning and

Acquisition, talent management, training & development, leading teams, and process improvement.

Diverse background includes working with Fortune 500 companies as well as startup organizations.

Strengths include comprehensive strategic analysis of company-wide Talent Acquisition operations,

full-cycle recruiting, dynamic and engaging communicator, results-oriented training & development and

compassionate solution-oriented employee engagement. Recognized for proactive, upbeat approach

to problem-solving and exceeding client expectations.

Hope that helps!

Be brief, be good, be gone! Your key words should inspire some interest. That will get you in the door for further explanations.

I have read a lot of professional summaries and here are my suggestions.
1) Make sure your points are applicable to the job you are seeking.
2) Be concise and to the point.
3) Give specific achievement goals attained.
4) Be careful using "corporate buzz" words. I would personally avoid all if possible.
5) Use proper English (present tense) and formal writing techniques (no slang or informal jargon).
6) Read through your summary and make sure it flows well, and make sure every line adds something.
7) Be positive and confident (but don't assume you have the job).

Good luck.

PS I went through this response and used the techniques above and found a more concise way to share my thoughts.